Wilmington | Holiday decorations, lavishly cooked meals and candlelit rooms make the holidays a high-risk time for home fires, officials say.The Wilmington Fire Department is asking people to take a few precautions to protect themselves and their homes from fires, which could start around Christmas decorations or in the kitchen.

Some of New Hanover County’s most famous and powerful names could soon be jostling over who gets to replace state Sen. Julia Boseman, D-New Hanover, who has announced she won’t seek a fourth term next year.Or maybe not.The Republicans have two announced candidates for the seat – attorneys Thom Goolsby and Michael Lee.